“Young man, seen in profile and facing front, sitting on a chaise-lounge; woman, seen from behind, looking into a mirror and combing her hair in the background; phrase inscribed along shelf or beam, “Fare tutti mestieri svergognati per campar onoratamente” (Do all shameless jobs to make an honorable living)”.

Inscription content: Lettered with title and production detail: within image, “Sickert del et sc.” (at lower left); beneath image, “MR JOHNSON / Published by Carfax & Co 24, Bury Street, St James’s”.

Curator’s comments: Bromberg identifies one preparatory drawing, ‘Mr Johnson’, 1911 (Private Collection).

Troyen quotes Sickert who wrote in the ‘The Burlington Magazine’ during 1917 that the phrase included within the image was copied down for him by Degas “who took ‘delighted relish in it'”.

Bibliographic references: Bromberg 2000 / Walter Sickert, prints: a catalogue raisonné (145.IV).  Troyen 1979 / Walter Sickert as Printmaker (81).